Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-13

Dell plucked Charlie by the sleeve
and whispered "tbe Crypt"
"Ah, the Crypt" murmured Charlie,
his face lighting up, "what splendid
notion"
There was no time to be lost-st any
moment the officers might make their
appearance. A few words apprised
George Of the situation. "The Smith "
followed George as quietly as possible.
Charlie seized bag Of oats and threw
il over his shoulder, and Dell followed
with pail OF water. Where man can
20 upright horse can 90 in a general
way. Still George looked doubtfully at
the narrow entrance to tho tool-shed.
"Thc Smith shared the misgiving,
snorted, and drew back little. Foot
steps were approaching, voices-strange
voices-were heard from the stable-yard.
Still "the Smith stood shivering ner-
vously, and hanging back from the dark
and narrow passage.
George spoke kindly to the horse,
patted him, fondled him, called him bty
name finally letting go his bride ne
ran down the dark passage and disap-
pesred. The horse whinnied, snorted,
and plunged in after the lad, his early
and faithful companion.
Yes, the poor beast on whom so much
depended was safely deposited IN his
hiding-place. The burning question now
was how to get him ont again.
1t was something OF an ordeal for poor
George to find himself in this under
ground vault as the light gradually de-
clined and premature darkness came
over the scene. But Mr.. Lilburn then
appeared with candles, matches, and
basket Of provisions. All was quiet, and
the men in possession had no suspicion
that the greatest prize of all was within
their clutches. Indeed, the men OF the
law had not yet discovered that he had
been snatched away from them. The
stable boys had moved an old respecta-
BILE coach horse into "the Smiths box,
and the officers, not being deeply skilled
in horse-fesh, had put him down as
"Wayland Smith" And the news had
been wired up and down and all over
the country that "the Smith had been
seized by the sheriff and could notpossl-
bly, run for the Jubilee Stakes.
George chuckled nightly over this
last piece OF news, and its inspirlting
nature kept up his spirits into the still
hours OF the night. His master on
leaving had babe him look out and listen
for any communication from outside;
but midnight was chimed forth from the
old church tower before he heard q
sound. Then there was a dull thud and
shaking at the further end of the crypt.
Soon hole appeared, aud the light OF
lantern shone through it.
"All right, George" said the mas
ter's voice "well dig you out in no
time"
Half a dozen spades were at work,
and the soil was light sand, so that in
less than half an hour there was an open
ing through which George and his horse
could march.
"Bless me-" said the voice of a veto
ran digger, eff this bain't Wayland
Smith n coming out of his tomb
Very pleasant indeed was the scene as
the hour approached for the decision of
the great race. Here was no dust, no
crowding, no hurlyburly, although all
the stands and Enclosures were well filled
and the course was thronged with an
eager crowd of well-dressed spectators.
Among these last, every now and then,
q ring vonld be formed, not for
pugilistic purposes, but around
some vociferating tipster, who, hoarse
with the continued practice OF
his oratory, bleated out boasts Of pre-
vious successes, and promises Of still
greater results on the present occasion.
On similar pretences impromptu lotte-
ries were formed here and there, -four
ishing for time, and then shouldered
out OF existence by burly policemen.
Wherever little knot of people were
gathered the purse-trick men were at
work, and stealthily pickpockets wormed
their way here and there-the parish
dogs Of civilization, to whom no man
accords willingly anything better than
/ kick or n curse.
Meantime wellappointed drags ratified
softly over the turf and were drawn up
/ in long lines in front Of the stands, while
gay costumes and killing combinations
| of colors huttered down from the roofs
and, with their wearers, glided away to
form fresh groups on the lawns or about
the balconies OF the club Enclosure. A
military band struck up, and by its music
added to the suggestion OF gayety and
/ light hearted enjoyment; but at little
distance its music was drowned in the
clamor of the betting inclosure, where
the hundreds congregated meant bust
ness and noting else.
A bell rings, the police are clearing
the course, and an elderly gentleman on
O ladder is arranging the numbers of the
horses about to start, as they stand upon
| the "correct card" First the number,
then the Jockeys name. Number five
on the card is Wayland Smith, and
having stuck up number four, the
/ elderly gentleman pauses and looks
down. There is a general craning of
heads, and levelling of glasses, for rumor
has it that number five was, in sporting
language, "a dead un." Number
five, George White, now appeared
in as glaring white and black as paint
pots could manage and a cheer rang out
from the spectators, for " the Smith !"
had been popular favorite. The roar
in the betting-ring gathered force and
volume. Paddock pushed his way here
and there, burly and confident, backing
his own horse freely on every side.
Charlie stood by the rails, trying to look
cheerful and unconcerned he had no
more money to lose on his horse, and the
mingled voices OF the crowd sounded in
his ears as if afar of, while the whole
scene had no more reality to him than a
gayly painted picture.
Lady Richards was on the course in
an elaborate and youthful costume, and
Dell was 10y her side, and unable to ex-
change word with her lover; but she
looked continually his way, and once
their eyes met, and they did their best
to express all they felt in that one
glance.
All the rest was like dream-the Ter
rible suspense of the protracted start ;
the approaching thunder of hoofs the
vivid dash of color the tension of wild
suspense. Charlie did not even see the
race he shut up his glass, bent his eyes
on the green turf, and felt as il his heart
! strings were cracking The first thing